• Donate
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • 2026 College Guide
    • 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars
    • About the College Guide and Rankings
    • College Guide Past Issues
  • Education
    • Higher Education
    • K-12
    • Higher Ed Q&A
  • Politics
    • Russia’s War on Ukraine
    • Law and Justice
    • Economy
      • Monopolized Economy
      • Health Care
    • Protecting the Vote
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • The Institute
    • White Papers
  • Kukula Award
  • About
  • Bluesky Page
  • X Username
  • Youtube Page
  • Linkedin Page
  • Instagram Page
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Education
    • K-12
    • Higher Education
    • Higher Ed Q&A
  • Politics
  • Health Care
  • Protecting the Vote
  • Law and Justice
  • The Monopolized Economy
  • Economy
  • Books
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Successes of Philanthropy
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Education
    • K-12
    • Higher Education
    • Higher Ed Q&A
  • Politics
  • Health Care
  • Protecting the Vote
  • Law and Justice
  • The Monopolized Economy
  • Economy
  • Books
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Successes of Philanthropy
Skip to content
Washington Monthly

Washington Monthly

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • 2026 College Guide
    • 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars
    • About the College Guide and Rankings
    • College Guide Past Issues
  • Education
    • Higher Education
    • K-12
    • Higher Ed Q&A
  • Politics
    • Russia’s War on Ukraine
    • Law and Justice
    • Economy
      • Monopolized Economy
      • Health Care
    • Protecting the Vote
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • The Institute
    • White Papers
  • Kukula Award
  • About
Posted inPolitical Animal, Politics

HISTORY THEN AND NOW….Chris Bertram

by Kevin Drum January 8, 2003January 8, 2022

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

HISTORY THEN AND NOW….Chris Bertram writes about the history books of his childhood today. They just don’t write ’em like that anymore.

Related

Our ideas can save democracy... But we need your help! Donate Now!

Support the Washington Monthly

Founded in 1969, the Washington Monthly is an independent media organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission: To preserve democracy and champion good governance through honest journalism and thoughtful commentary.
 
We’re not a subsidiary of a giant media company or a mouthpiece for ideologues. We’re independent, listened to by insiders and willing to take on sacred cows—liberal and conservative. 

Yes, I'll Make a Donation

Trending Now

Is Political Polling Broken?

October 4, 2026

Big, Ugly Changes to SNAP Are Hitting County Budgets

October 2, 2026October 2, 2026

The AI Alignment That Can Save Us

October 1, 2026October 1, 2026

Taming the AI Monster

October 1, 2026

The Unheralded End of Mass Incarceration

September 30, 2026September 30, 2026

AI Has an Anti-Woman Problem. Here’s How to Fix It

AI Has an Anti-Woman Problem. Here’s How to Fix It

The CEO of the world’s first “female-forward” AI startup has a plan for tackling bias in artificial intelligence.

Keep reading
by Anne Kim September 30, 2026
Big, Ugly Changes to SNAP Are Hitting County Budgets
Government

Big, Ugly Changes to SNAP Are Hitting County Budgets

Keep reading
by Gillen Tener Martin October 2, 2026October 2, 2026
The AI Alignment That Can Save Us
The Monopolized Economy

The AI Alignment That Can Save Us

Keep reading
by Jonah Blank October 1, 2026October 1, 2026
Taming the AI Monster
Politics

Taming the AI Monster

Keep reading
by David Atkins October 1, 2026
The Unheralded End of Mass Incarceration
Law and Justice

The Unheralded End of Mass Incarceration

Keep reading
by Keith Humphreys, Shawn D.  Bushway and Jason Robey September 30, 2026September 30, 2026
AI Has an Anti-Woman Problem. Here’s How to Fix It
Podcast

AI Has an Anti-Woman Problem. Here’s How to Fix It

Keep reading
by Anne Kim September 30, 2026
Why Democrats Should Be Most Worried About Troy Jackson (And It’s Not the Consultants) 
Politics

Why Democrats Should Be Most Worried About Troy Jackson (And It’s Not the Consultants) 

Keep reading
by Bill Scher September 29, 2026

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

  • Bluesky Page
  • X Username
  • Youtube Page
  • Linkedin Page
  • Instagram Page
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • From the Archives
  • Education
    • K-12
    • Higher Education
  • Health Care
  • The Monopolized Economy
  • Politics
  • Protecting the Vote
  • Law and Justice
  • Economy
  • Books
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Successes of Philanthropy
© 2026 Washington Monthly Powered by Newspack

Never miss an article!

Sign up for the Washington Monthly newsletter to get our stories in your inbox. Opt out any time.

Select list(s) to subscribe to

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from the Washington Monthly

Gift this article